MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Latest on the legal battle over whether Gov. Tony Evers legally rescinded 82 of former Gov. Scott Walker’s appointees (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has re-hired most of the Republican appointees he fired last week but is leaving some key positions open.
Republican senators during a lame-duck session in December confirmed 82 people former Republican Gov. Scott Walker appointed to various boards, councils and other positions. A Dane County judge ruled last week that the session was illegal but an appeals court stayed the ruling Wednesday. During the interim Evers rescinded all the Walker appointees’ appointments.
Republicans insist the stay means the appointees have their jobs back. Evers’ attorneys say his move was completely legal since he took action before the stay was handed down.
Still, on Thursday afternoon the governor reappointed 67 of the 82 appointees. Among the 15 positions he left vacant are two University of Wisconsin regent slots and a commissioner post on the state Public Service Commission.
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8:55 a.m.
One of former Gov. Scott Walker’s appointees is trying to go back to work after a state appellate court stayed a ruling that her appointment and dozens of others were invalid.
Ellen Nowak tried to return to her job as a member of the Public Service Commission on Thursday morning but was stopped by a security guard.
Republican senators confirmed Nowak’s appointment along with 81 other Walker appointees during a lame-duck session in December. A Dane County judge ruled last week that the session was illegal. Gov. Tony Evers rescinded all 82 appointments Friday.
The 3rd District Court of Appeals stayed the ruling Wednesday. Republican lawmakers’ attorneys say that means the appointees can go back to work.
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Both items have been updated to correct that Nowak was a member of the Public Service Commission, not chairwoman, when the governor rescinded her appointment.
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